Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas calls for Hamas to surrender its weapons and advocates for a ceasefire ahead of his upcoming address to the United Nations General Assembly.
Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday via video link, following the revocation of his visa by the U.S. last month. The U.N. recently voted 145-5 to allow Abbas to speak at this significant international event, despite the U.S. accusing the Palestinian leadership of undermining peace efforts and barring entry for approximately 80 Palestinians.
It remains uncertain how Abbas’ upcoming address will differ from his remarks made on Monday at an event co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. During that event, Abbas called for an immediate ceasefire and urged Hamas to surrender all weapons to the PA.
“Hamas will have no role in governance, and it, along with other factions, must hand over its weapons to the Palestinian Authority,” Abbas stated. “We want one unified state, without arms outside the framework of the law, under one legal system, and with one legitimate security force.”
Abbas also reaffirmed his condemnation of the actions of the Israeli occupation, while simultaneously denouncing the killing and kidnapping of civilians, including the attacks carried out by Hamas on October 7, 2023.
The PA was established in 1994 following the Oslo Accords peace agreement with Israel, but it has been largely sidelined since 2005. It continues to operate in the West Bank, although it has faced ongoing clashes with Hamas, which has held de facto power in the Gaza Strip since 2007 after a violent power struggle.
Last month, the U.S. State Department indicated that the PA “must consistently repudiate terrorism — including the October 7 massacre” before it can be considered a partner for peace.
Despite the PA’s limited role in ceasefire negotiations, Abbas expressed gratitude on Monday to the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt for their mediation efforts with Israel. He asserted that the PA is the only legitimate authority capable of assuming full responsibility for governance and security in Gaza, proposing a temporary administrative committee linked to the Palestinian government in the West Bank, supported by Arab and international partners.
Abbas outlined a “comprehensive reform agenda” aimed at strengthening governance, transparency, and the rule of law in Gaza. His proposed plan includes reforming financial institutions, aligning school curricula with UNESCO standards, establishing a social welfare program, and holding presidential and parliamentary elections within one year of the conflict’s conclusion.
The State Department did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding its support for the re-implementation of the PA. The Trump administration has consistently made clear its opposition to the actions taken by other Western nations, which have recently indicated their intention to recognize a “state of Palestine.”
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